Historical Manuscripts

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Historical Manuscripts Project: Romanian illuminated medieval manuscripts – Scientific research on the materials and techniques User Group Leader: Mihai Lupu, National Art Museum of Romania , Bucharest, Romania Location: Monastery of Putna, Suceava County, Romania The two illuminated medieval manuscripts selected for the MOLAB application: the Four Gospels Book of Humor and the Four Gospels Anonymous Book from the time of Prince Stephen the Great and Prince Bogdan the Third, preserved at the Monastery of Putna, are considered masterpieces of the Moldavian art, at the end of 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, due to their fine artistic and historical value. The Four Gospels Book of Humor, written by the hieromonk Nicodim from Putna, was ordered by the Moldavian Prince Stephen the Great (1475 – 1504) who offered it in 1473 to the old church of the Humor Monastery (founded before 1415). The manuscript produced in the Scriptorium of Putna Monastery has five miniatures in full illumination (Fig.1) and it is written in Slavonic on 278 parchment sheets in folio. The covers of gilded silver hammered au repoussé technique were made in the Humor Monastery. Book was modelled after the famous Gospel Book written in 1429 at Neamt Monastery by Gavril Uric upon the request of Princess Marina and Prince Alexander the Good, the grandfather of Stephen the Great, now preserved at the Bodleian Library in Oxford1,2. Fig.1 The five illuminated miniatures in the Humor Gospel Book representing the Evangelists Matthew and Luke, Stephen the Great kneeling at the feet of the Virgin with Child on the throne, and the Evangelists Mark and John. The Four Gospels Anonymous Book is the last manuscript from the time of Stephen the Great. Abandoned few months before death of the great prince, the work on this book was continued by his son, prince Bogdan the Third. The manuscript was finished completely and bounded in precious metal covers on 5th of May 1507. It contains four miniatures (Fig.2) and 380 parchment sheets written in Slavonic by an anonymous calligraphist. The covers are made of gilded silver worked au repoussé1,2. Fig.2 The illuminated miniatures in the Anonymous Gospel Book representing the four Evangelists: Mark and Luke, Matthew and John. Research on the materials and techniques was carried out using the following MOLAB in-situ techniques: XRF, micro-Raman, fiber-optic Mid FT-IR and NIR (Fig.3). The results obtained permitted identification of almost all the pigments used in the miniatures and decorations. Interesting information on inks composition, on the possible nature of some of the binders in miniatures and on metal cover composition was also obtained. Fig.3 MOLAB team performing in-situ XRF analysis on the Evangelist Matthew’s miniature page (Humor Gospel Book), and Mid FT-IR and NIR on the Evangelist John’s page (Anonymous Gospel Book) The main objective of this research was to determine the materials and techniques used in making the manuscripts, to establish the palette of pigments and compare the resulting information with the existing one on pigments reported as present in the European medieval manuscripts3, 4. 94 XRF, 43 Mid FT-IR, 7 NIR and 17 micro-Raman measurements were performed on the Humor Gospel Book (Fig. 4). The pigments identified in the artist’s palette were: gold; silver; white: lead white (PbCO3xPb(OH)2), calcite (CaCO3); red: cinnabar (HgS), bole – iron earth pigment; orange: iron ochre; pink violet: a mixture of lead white and an organic pigment; violet – an organic pigment (possible a lake); violet dark: azurite and an organic pigment; blue: azurite (2CuCO3xCu(OH)2); green: malachite (CuCO3xCu(OH)2), green earth (hydrosilicate of Fe, K, Mn and Al); brown: ochre; black: carbon black; grey: lead white and carbon black. On the Evangelist Matthew’s page only the lead white applied on the parchment was detected by XRF and confirmed by FT-IR. In the other four miniatures pages and the title pages, calcium in major amounts was detected on parchment by XRF, suggeste d as calcite by FT-IR. The metallic covers and the book binder chain buttons analyzed by XRF were determined to be made of gilded silver with varying impurities present: copper in major amounts (detected in the gold consumed areas) and traces of Ni, Fe, Cr. The presence of Hg revealed in all the XRF measurements confirmed that the gilding technique with gold amalgam was employed. The big pink jewels placed on the front cover at its corners, probably semiprecious crystal rock stones, were found to be quartz with Ca, K, Fe, Mn and/or Ni impurities. 8 4 52 54 22 13 58 10 3 11 45 23 31 2 40 32 35 9 1 29 30 41 43 29 8 34 42 6 50 36 6 38 4 7 63 14 20 27 3 49 62 28 34 48 56 39 55 5 12 2 59 33 25 21 57 53 66 60 1 51 61 44 46 24 5 26 37 9 47 Fig.4 The Humor Gospel Book - the back gilded silver cover representing the Assumption of the Virgin, the miniature representing the Evangelist Mark and the votive unfinished miniature representing Prince Stephen the Great. Areas where XRF (in red), micro - Raman (in green), Mid FT -IR (yellow) and NIR (blue) spot analysis were carried out are indicated. On the Anonymous Gospel Book 34 XRF, 26 Mid FT-IR, 13 NIR and 16 micro-Raman analysis were carried out. The artist’s palette was found to be almost similar as for the Humor Book: gold; white: lead white ; red: cinnabar, bole – iron earth pigment; yellow: ochre; pink violet: a mixture of lead white and an organic pigment; blue: azurite; green: malachite; brown: ochre; black: carbon black; grey: lead white and carbon black. In addition to the above mentioned pigments, the white: gypsum (by FT-IR); yellow: orpiment (As2S3); orange: cinnabar and orpiment; pink: lead white and cinnabar, and different shades of green: probably mixtures of azurite and orpiment , and mixtures of malachite, lead white and green earth, were also detected by XRF. On the gold areas, bands indicative of a proteinaceous binder were revealed by FT-IR on both manuscripts. Evidence of the presence of a gum was found on some illuminated areas. Three colored inks were identified in both manuscripts: gold, red and black. The gold ink used in the title pages of each Gospel was found to be colloidal gold. Identification of Hg (by XRF) in the composition of red ink suggested that a cinnabar-containing ink was employed. Black ink was detected to be an iron gall ink (XRF). It is known that this type of ink could cause deterioration of the parchment or paper support. However, the black written parchment pages in our manuscripts were found to be in a quite good state of preservation. Important 5 amounts of copper, supposedly related to the ink preparation process , were also detected (XRF) in the Humor manuscript only. In this repor t some preliminary observations were presented. Further discussion and conclusions are intended to be presented soon into a future paper. Acknowledgements Special thanks are owed to Professor B. Brunetti and the MOLAB team, and monk Elefterie from Putna Monastery, who made possible this research to be accomplished. I.Z. Balta, who initiated this project, and the colleagues from the National Research Laboratory for Conservation and Restoration of Movable Cultural Heritage in Bucharest, are also gratefully acknowledged for their support and collaboration. References 1. Paradais, C. - Comori ale spiritualitatii Romanesti la Putna (Treasures of the Romanian Spirituality at Putna), Editura Mitropoliei Moldovei si Sucevei, Iasi, 1988 2. Cataloque of the Vatican exhibition Stefano Il Grande-Ponte Tra L’Oriente e L’Occidente, Vatican 2004, Italy 3. Clark, M. – The analysis of medieval European manuscripts, Reviews in Conservation 2001, pp.3-17 4. Cennino D’Andrea Cennini – The Craftsman’s Handbook translated by Daniel V. Thompson, Jr., Dover Publications, Inc. New York, 1960 5. Dionisie din Furna – Carte de pictura (The Treatise of Painting of Dionisius from Furna), Editura Meridiane, Bucuresti 1979 .
Recommended publications
  • 1 SUCEAVA COUNTY COUNCIL Department of External Partnerships
    SUCEAVA COUNTY COUNCIL Department of external partnerships and diaspora Chernivtsi region The most important activities commonly developed, since the signing of the partnership between Suceava county and Chernivtsi region, in Ukraine, were as follows: - twinning between schools and territorial-administrative units from Suceava county with similar ones from Chernivtsi region; - exchanges of experience between specialists from different fields of activity in the two regions; - participation, based on reciprocity, in rest camps, organized for children; - organizing, in common, folklore festivals, poetry contests, performances; - study trips; - sport competitions between students; - organizing conferences, symposiums, training activities with the participation of teachers, school inspectors and school directors from the two partner regions in order to conclude partnerships and to promote projects of common interest; - exchange of teaching materials, books; - providing school programs for the assimilation (familiarization with) of the mother tongue, knowledge of the history and traditions of minorities; - regular work meetings at the headquarters of the two administrative-territorial units, as well as at the PCTF Siret-Porubne and Porubne-Siret, with the participation of the administrative leaders of Suceava county and Chernivtsi region. In the field of culture, a series of activities of particular importance have been carried out, for the organization of which Suceava County Council, as well as the Cernăuţi Regional State Administration and
    [Show full text]
  • Bucovina Monasteries
    Bucovina Monasteries The land of Bucovina The Austrians gave the name “Die Buchenland”, “The Land of Beech Woods” to the area. Historical Bucovina was about twice its present size, but the northern part now belongs to the Ukraine as a result of the Soviet-German Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact of August 1940. What remains, forms partly the modern administrative county of Suceava. The county of Suceava is bound in the north by the Ukraine, and in the west by the Romanian region of Transylvania, with its counties Bistriţa-Năsăud and Maramureş along the ridges of the Carpathians. On the eastern and southern sides are Moldavian counties: Botoşani and Iaşi in the east, Neamţ, Harghita and Mureş in the south. Bucovina is a synthesis of the variety, harmony and beauty of Romanian landscape, its richness of relief with mountains, tablelands, gorges, hills, fields, and valleys, its rivers, streams and lakes, its forests, flora and fauna. Landmarks The impressive number of churches to be found in Bucovina, Romania, with their fine exterior and interior frescoes, have been preserved and handed down from mediaeval times, and because of their uniqueness and artistic value, were added to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List in 1993. There is no other place in the world where such a group of churches, with such high quality exterior frescoes, are to be seen. The churches were founded, in most cases, as family burial places of princes and high nobles. Each painter, although following the canonical iconographic programme, interpreted the scenes in a slightly different way. Using colors like the famous Voronet blue, the green- red of Sucevita, the yellow of Moldovita, the red of Humor and the green of Arbore, the painters (most of them unknown) described the biblical stories of the earth and heaven, stories of man’s beginnings and of his life after death.
    [Show full text]
  • The Residence of Bukovyna and Dalmatia Metropolitans in Chernivtsi
    THE RESIDENCE OF BUKOVYNA AND DALMATIA METROPOLITANS IN CHERNIVTSI NOMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE OF THE FOR INSCRIPTION THE RESIDENCE OF BUKOVYNA AND DALMATIA METROPOLITANS I N CHERNIVTSI ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST 2008 PREPARED BY GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE, STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL OF YURIJ FEDKOVYCH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TABLE OF CONTENTS Summery…………………………………………………………………………..…5 1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY 1.A Country . …... 16 1.B State, province or region . …………..…18 1.C Name of property . …….….19 1.D Geographical coordinates to the nearest second. Property description . ……. 19 1.E Maps and plans . ………...20 1.F Area of nominated property and proposed buffer zone . .. … . ..22 2. DESCRIPTION 2.A Description of property . ………........26 2.B History and development . .………………..38 3. JUSTIFICATION FOR INSCRIPTION 3.A Criteria under which inscription is proposed and justifi cation for inscription 48 3.B Proposed statement of outstanding universal value . 54 3.C Comparative analysis . 55 3.D Integrity and authenticity . 75 4. STATE OF CONSERVATION AND FACTORS AFFECTING THE PROPERTY 4.A Present state of conservation . .79 4.B Factors affecting the property . 79 (i) Development pressures . 80 (ii) Environmental pressures . 80 (iii) Natural disasters and risk preparedness . 80 (iv) Visitor/tourism pressures . 81 (v) Number of inhabitants within the property and the buffer zone . .. 87 5. PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTY 5.A Ownership . 90 5.B Protective designation . 98 5.C Means of implementing protective measures . 110 5.D Existing plans related to municipality and region in which the proposed property is located . 111 5.E Property management plan or other management system .
    [Show full text]
  • The Carpathian Garden!
    Welcome to the Carpathian Garden! Join us on a fascinating journey to a country rich in history and culture! Visit magical, legendary destinations, explore medieval fortresses, walk streets that have witnessed the unfolding of history, knock at the gates of castles and discover monasteries founded by medieval princes and painted by gifted artists. We also invite you too to savour delicious traditional dishes and wines with unique bouquets. Whether you choose the luxury of a five-star hotel or prefer the cosy comforts of a guest house, in ROMANIA you will always feel welcome! GENERAL INFORMATION Geography: Romania is located in south-eastern Europe (2,900 km east of the Atlantic Ocean, and 900 km from the Mediterranean), where the 45° north latitude parallel meets the 25° east longitude meridian. Accessibility: By road – European entrance/exit points into/from Romania: Borş, Nădlac, Petea, Turnu, Vărşand, Cenad (Hungary), Halmeu, Siret (Ukraine), Albiţa, Sculeni, Galaţi (Republic of Moldova), Negru Vodă, Giurgiu, Vama Veche (Bulgaria), Porţile de Fier I, Moraviţa (Serbia); By plane – main airports: Bucharest (Henri Coandă, Băneasa), Constanţa (Mihail Kogălniceanu), Timişoara, Cluj-Napoca, Târgu Mureş, Suceava, Sibiu, Tulcea, Bacău, Iaşi, Oradea, Arad; By sea – harbours: Constanţa and Mangalia. Surface area: 238,391 km2 Population: 21.5 mil. inhabitants (2008) Religion: Orthodox (87%) State flag: Official language: Romanian. Many Romanians also speak English, French or German Capital: Bucharest, 1,944,000 inhabitants (2008) Other principal
    [Show full text]
  • The Tradition and the New Tendencies in the Decoration of Putna's Codices
    European Journal of Science and Theology, September 2008, Vol.4, No.3, 19-26 _______________________________________________________________________ THE TRADITION AND THE NEW TENDENCIES IN THE DECORATION OF PUTNA’S CODICES COLLECTION Lora Nenkovska * Center for Slavic and Byzantine Studies ‘Ivan Duitchev’, 18 Prof. I. Duitchev Street, 1618 Sofia, Bulgaria (Received 15 June 2008, revised 28 July 2008) Abstract This article analyzes the manuscripts collection of the Holy monastery of Putna. The focus is put on the decorating styles represented in the liturgical codices that were written and illuminated in the monastery scriptorium during the XV-XVIII centuries. The purpose is to emphasize the main tendencies in the decorative practices represented in the discussed collection and to point out two problems. The first one, is the necessity of a vaster study based on the comparison of the decoration of this small group of manuscripts with the book production of the other scriptoria in Moldavia, Valahia and outside the Principalities, which will allow us to make more general conclusions. The second one, is the necessity of making a catalogue containing the codicological data and contents of the manuscripts treasured in Putna. Keywords: manuscripts, decorative styles, Putna, Codicology, postbyzantine art 1. Introduction The foundation of the Holy Putna Monastery (now in the North-East Romania) is connected with one of the most important periods of the Moldavian History – the rule of Saint Steven the Great and, as it refers to culture, this period could be viewed as a basic one for the cultural development of the Principality. This monastery was built and destined to become an important cultural centre.
    [Show full text]
  • The Reign, Culture and Legacy of Ştefan Cel Mare, Voivode of Moldova: a Case Study of Ethnosymbolism in the Romanian Societies
    The reign, culture and legacy of Ştefan cel Mare, voivode of Moldova: a case study of ethnosymbolism in the Romanian societies Jonathan Eagles Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD Institute of Archaeology University College London 2011 Volume 2 Illustrations, photographs and maps ILLUSTRATIONS Monasteries and churches Image unavailable 1 View of Putna monastery in its valley setting, seen from the northwest in 1902. This image was published by K.A. Romstorfer in 1903, following the renovation works that he directed. Ştefan cel Mare’s octagonal “Treasury Tower” can be seen on the extreme right of the precinct walls. Source: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. 1 2 Putna seen from the southeast in 1904. Further work has been carried out – the roof of the Treasury Tower has been renewed, for example (Romstorfer 1904). 2 Image unavailable 3 Plan of the Church of the Assumption at Putna, showing building phases and areas of archaeological investigation (1969-70 & 1972) (published in Bedros 2005, 73, after N.N. Puşcaşu). The ground plan of the first phase of Ştefan’s building is shown by diagonal shading (the first block in the left-hand column of the scheme). 3 4 Elevation section and plan of the Church of the Assumption at Putna, published by Gheorghe Balş (Balş 1926, 145 & 146, after Romstorfer). This shows the church after several phases of restoration, but still following the founder’s plan. From west to east, the key components of the plan are the porch (with a ceremonial entrance doorway in the south wall); the pronaos (where the monuments of Bogdan III and Princess Maria can be seen in recesses beneath the easternmost windows); the gropniţa, which contains the sarcophagus of Ştefan cel Mare beneath the southern window and that of Maria of Mangop beneath the northern window; and then the naos – the liturgical area of the church – beyond two columns.
    [Show full text]
  • Razing of Romania's Past.Pdf
    REPORT Ttf F1 *t 'A. Í M A onp DlNU C GlURESCU THE RAZING OF ROMANIA'S PAST The Razing of Romania's Past was sponsored by the Kress Foundation European Preservation Program of the World Monuments Fund; it was published by USACOMOS. The World Monuments Fund is a U.S. nonprofit organization based in New York City whose purpose is to preserve the cultural heritage of mankind through administration of field restora­ tion programs, technical studies, advocacy and public education worldwide. World Monuments Fund, 174 East 80th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021. (212) 517-9367. The Samuel H. Kress Foundation is a U.S. private foundation based in New York City which concentrates its resources on the support of education and training in art history, advanced training in conservation and historic preservation in Western Europe. The Samuel H. Kress Foundation, 174 East 80th Street, N.Y. 10021. (212) 861-4993. The United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (USACOMOS) is one of 60 national committees of ICOMOS forming a worldwide alliance for the study and conservation of historic buildings, districts and sites. It is an international, nongovernmental institution which serves as the focus of international cultural resources ex­ change in the United States. US/ICOMOS, 1600 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20006. (202) 842-1866. The text and materials assembled by Dinu C. Giurescu reflect the views of the author as sup­ ported by his independent research. Book design by DR Pollard and Associates, Inc. Jacket design by John T. Engeman. Printed by J.D.
    [Show full text]
  • The Reign, Culture and Legacy of Ştefan Cel Mare, Voivode of Moldova: a Case Study of Ethnosymbolism in the Romanian Societies
    The reign, culture and legacy of Ştefan cel Mare, voivode of Moldova: a case study of ethnosymbolism in the Romanian societies Jonathan Eagles Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD Institute of Archaeology University College London 2011 Volume 1 ABSTRACT The reign, culture and legacy of Ştefan cel Mare, voivode of Moldova: a case study of ethnosymbolism in the Romanian societies This thesis seeks to explain the nature and strength of the latter-day status of Ştefan cel Mare in the republics of Romania and Moldova, and the history of his legacy. The regime and posthumous career of Ştefan cel Mare is examined through studies of history, politics and archaeology, set within the conceptual approach to nationalism that is known as “ethnosymbolism”. At the heart of this thesis lie the questions why does Ştefan cel Mare play a key role as a national symbol and how does this work in practice? These questions are addressed within an ethnosymbolist framework, which allows for the ethnosymbolist approach itself to be subjected to a critical study. There is a lacuna in many ethnosymbolist works, a space for a more detailed consideration of the place of archaeology in the development of nationalism. This thesis contends that the results of archaeological research can be included in a rounded ethnosymbolist study. First, the history of archaeological sites and monuments may contribute to understanding the way in which historically attested cultural symbols are adopted by communities over time. Secondly, if studied carefully, archaeological evidence may have the potential to trace the evolution of identity characteristics, in line with ethnosymbolism’s attempt to account for the formation of national identity in the pre- modern era.
    [Show full text]
  • Revista De Istorie Militară Nr. 3-4/2014
    SUMAR • Cruciada târzie în Țările Române și Mediterana Orientală – DENIS CĂPRĂROIU – Scurte consideraţii privind cronologia campa­ REVISTA DE ISTORIE niilor anti­mongole ale regelui Ludovic de Anjou ................................................ 1 MILITARĂ – DANIELE TINTERRI (Italia) – Mahomet I et Çüneyd à Smyrne: Publicaţia este editată de le rôle des îles égéennes .............................................................................................. 12 Minis terul Apărării Naţionale, – FLORIN GABRIEL PETRICĂ – Sub semnul Sfintei Cruci: Cetatea prin Institutul pentru Studii de Scaun a Sucevei şi Ştefan cel Mare ...................................................................... 23 Politice de Apărare şi Istorie Militară, membru al Consor ţiului • Constantin Brâncoveanu 1714–2014: trei secole de la moartea Acade miilor de Apărare şi In­ stitutelor pentru Studii de Se­ ca martiri a principelui român, a fiilor săi, Constantin, Ștefan, Radu curitate din cadrul Partene­ și Matei, a marelui clucer Ianache Văcărescu riatului pentru Pace, coordo­ – SERGIU IOSIPESCU – Însemnătatea geopolitică a domniei lui nator naţional al Proiec tului de Constantin vodă Brâncoveanu .................................................................................. 29 Istorie Paralelă: NATO – Tratatul – ADRIAN TERTECEL – O descriere rusească a drumului de la Cameniţa de la Varşovia la Istanbul (1711) .............................................................................................................. 37 COLEGIUL DE REDACŢIE – VLAD MISCHIEVCA
    [Show full text]
  • Routes4u Feasibility Study on the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Danube Region
    Routes4U Feasibility Study on the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Danube Region Routes4U Project Routes4U Feasibility study on the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Danube Region ROUTES4U FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE CYRIL AND METHODIUS ROUTE IN THE DANUBE REGION June 2020 The present study has been developed in the framework of Routes4U, the joint programme between the Council of Europe and the European Commission (DG REGIO). Routes4U aims to foster regional development through the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme in the four EU macro-regions: the Adriatic and Ionian, Alpine, Baltic Sea and Danube Regions. A special thank you goes to the author Dr. Slavia Barlieva, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and to the numerous partners and stakeholders who supported the study. The opinions expressed in this work are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Council of Europe. Cover Photos: European Commission, Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 3.0], UNESCO Silvan Rehfeld 2 | 76 www.coe.int/routes4u Routes4U Feasibility study on the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Danube Region CYRIL AND METHODIUS ROUTE IN THE DANUBE REGION Content Executive summary .......................................................................................................... 4 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 4 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND .......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Simion Florea Marian and the Legends About the Beginnings of Moldavia
    SIMION FLOREA MARIAN AND THE LEGENDS ABOUT THE BEGINNINGS OF MOLDAVIA Radu CÂRCIUMARU , Valahia University of Târgoviște (Romania) E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: The works of Simion Florea Marian belong to the stage of a full assertion of the Romanian spirituality which found expression in Bukovina in the second half of the nineteenth century. His historical legends, traditions, and mythology written and published over the years have had a great impact on the Romanian culture, influencing the way in which people could value their spiritual heritage. His legacy is most complex, featuring various aspects; hence the historiography dedicated to the scholar Simion Florea Marian should be solid and extensive. In this study, we have aimed to highlight the historical legends of the 13th and 14th centuries and, if possible, to compare them with the Moldavian chronicles, the processes, and events from an important period of the Middle Ages, from the great Mongolian invasions until the completion of the second Romanian mediaeval state. The geographic locations, which are quite precise in the texts Simion Florea Marian put into circulation, have been of great help in our attempt; this is important considering that fragments of his legends intertwine with actual historical events. Keywords: Simion Florea Marian, Bukovina, personality, legend, Moldavia, Tatars, geographic location, Dragoș, Sas. Rezumat: Simion Florea Marian, o personalitate a culturii bucovinene și legendele despre începuturile Țării Moldovei. Lucrările lui Simion Florea Marian aparțin etapei de afirmare deplină a spiritualității românești care s-a manifestat în Bucovina în a doua jumătate a secolului al XIX-lea. Legendele sale istorice, tradițiile și mitologia despre care a scris și publicat de-a lungul timpului au avut un impact deosebit asupra culturii românești, influențând modul în care oamenii își puteau valoriza patrimoniul spiritual.
    [Show full text]
  • 19 Onoriu Colăcel* Faculty of Letters and Communication Sciences, Ştefan Cel Mare University of Suceava, 13 Universităţii St
    Messages, Sages, and Ages, Vol. 2, No. 2, (2015) DOI: 10.1515/msas-2015-0008 Onoriu Colăcel Faculty of Letters and Communication Sciences, Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 13 Universităţii Street, 720229 Suceava, Romania e-mail: [email protected] SUCEAVA ON CAMERA: THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND LOCAL SELF- IDENTIFICATION IN 21ST CENTURY ROMANIA Abstract In post-communist Romania, regional self-identification has undergone significant change. Particularly, a paradigm shift occurred in relation to 20th century Romanian historiography (I have in mind the national communist as well as inter-war historic narratives). The literature and the promotional films of Suceava County Council (i.e., the local government branch) are a case in point. They are designed to advertise tourism products in travel marts and various media outlets. Next to the story of a multi- faith/ethnic community, particular images and symbols are employed in order to craft the public identity of the county. A regional iconography gradually emerges on screen as more video content about Suceava is being produced. Capturing the essence of Romanian Bucovina on camera is a challenge steeped both in the history of the Habsburg Duchy and in that of the Moldavian principality (whose northernmost part was incorporated into the Habsburg Empire in 1775). Next comes the attempt to ‘touristify’ natural sites of environmental interest. History and nature are narrative tropes that amount to a coherent story delivered to natives and visitors alike. Despite the industrial scarring of the landscape well known to the natives, areas of woodland and countryside are on display. City life is largely ignored for the sake of a multicultural history of Bukovina mainly located in a rural setting.
    [Show full text]